New wheels, a first for an Audi i think?

Well ive been keeping this up my sleeve for a while as i was waiting till i had fitted them, but its not happening soon enuff just now. So ive went for the pics of the new wheels i have.................

Think its a first for an Audi overall, never mind on an A4 B5

I'll let the pics do the talking first.......

Front

Rear

Wheels are TVR Spiders, 8.5x18.

They are not staggered in size, but the offset differs from front to rear and helps the look to be staggered! Fronts are et42, rears et33.

Test fit shows them to sit flush with wings, ideal looking stance without spacers and such. Currently have 225's on the RS 8j wheels, so i think im going for 215's for these wheels, just to be safe for clearance on arch.

They will be getting full works, powdercoated (anthracite) then new tyres fitted when i scrape up the cash, hopefully soon.

The wheels look good, but personally i'd be concerned with the fitment.

8.5" rims should really be running 235s or wider, and having to resort to stretching tyres is a pretty sure indication that the wheels dont actually fit.

The clearance to the front upright looks to be very tight too, and even with silly tyres i think you'll have problems there.

For me, functionality has to come before styling, as a car is a tool to be used. A styling mod that compromises the way the car drives is a nono.

That said, it'll really come down to how it pans out once they're actually fitted. I'd maybe be tempted to get some cheap nasty part worns thrown on and fit them to the car and see how they actually fit, before spending a ton of cash on them.

Yep it really is a slight gamble, but always loved these wheels since an old boss had a Cerberra yrs back.

Im not into the stretched tyre look and all that side of tings(just seen my Jamaican typo!), but if i need to push the boundaries to get something i like and be a little different, im willing to do it and see how it fairs.

Worst possible scenario, it drives rubbish, catches etc i've got a couple of Audi type wheels in mind i will replace them with and sell them on, but fancy doing it anyway.

The mrs prefers silver too, and i can see how they go with mirrors, but i might change them at somepoint later.

True Kev, hear what you say mate, but the car is a wkend garage queen.

You think that clearance is worrying??? Ive seen pics of guys that couldnt get a fag paper between the inner rim and susp upright(Bear in mind the car is on its weight on the wheel in those pics, not jacked) and they were apparently driving fine?

As said, if it does detract from the actual drive/handling in a severe negative way, i will have no hesitation in changing them, im not one for scraping cars over bumps etc just to get a look that cant be driven properly.

Good shout on the part worn idea, maybe pic up a pair and try a front and rear on for a day or 2 before going for new tyres! Any donations greatly appreciated in the tyre dep if anybody can help there!

Its more that the upright immediately curves inwards towards where the tyre will be, so while the rim fits the tyre may not. A standard S4 runs ET45 with 7.5" rim and you cant get a finger between the tyre and the upright...

I've never looked into it too much, but it was my understanding that people generally dropped to at least ET40 on 8J's and ET35 on 8.5J's to get enough clearance between the tyre and the upright.

Perhaps running the ET35's on the front and the ET43's on the rear with a 10mm spacer would give you more room, but you may well then be running too much poke for the arches.

Yeah, id watched a few threads on the Zine and some of the specs those wheels have are wild. Most people i asked seem to have ran 8.5j on et35 no problems, so i based it on that. Ive had these wheels since last year, and spent a good couple of months researching the et, 8.5 width etc that others seem to have ran, so quietly confident they should go without major hassle, but time will tell.

As for suspension curve, i see this also, but hope the tyre will slope enough at the top of inner sidewall to clear, as said, i think i'll defo try find sum scrap tyres to trial fit and see how it sits properly mounted.

I have 235/45/17 Tyres on 7.5J X17 ET45 and trust me you cannot get anything hardly between wheel and strut let alone your finger you cannot get any nearer than this..
I did voice my concern about them at the time..

I was told by a lot of very well known respected people on here if it goes round and does not catch what you worried about..
Been ok up till now but to be honest don't really do many miles..

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